Business & Popcorn: 5 Business Savvy Tips from the Movies

Never again will I feel guilty blowing off a whole day’s worth of work to lay on the couch and watch three or four movies in a row. Why? Because I’ve discovered the perfect way to truly mix business and pleasure!

After a thorough investigation, I’ve compiled a list of the top five most valuable movie quotes for small businesses and small business owners. As obvious as some may seem, they manifest many basic principles of business that are often overlooked as a result of our hectic day-to-day routines.

“Show me the money! SHOW! ME! THE MOOONAAYYY!”Jerry MaGuire (1996)

Lesson: Easy concept here: Cash flow is everything, so do what you must to reap in profits. After all, that’s what business growth is all about, right? Right?

Wrong! Disregard that quote (although it’s the most memorable quote from the movie, I mentioned it for kicks). The real lesson lies within Jerry’s infamous speech about his mission statement: “We are losing our battle with all that is personal and real about our business. Every day I can look at a list of phone calls only partially returned. Driving home, I think of what was not accomplished, instead of what was accomplished.”

The real lesson: Your business strategy shouldn’t be to grow solely for the sake of growth. Focus on the details of your customer service. Establish personal relationships that matter and then go above and beyond the call of duty for each and every customer. After all, it should be satisfied customers that leave you with the greatest feeling of accomplishment at the end of the every day.

“The name’s Bond…James Bond.” James Bond, 007 Series

Lesson: Image is everything and Bond is a brand. For Bond, his reputation as a business savvy, tuxedo clad secret agent will forever be embedded in our minds. Why? Because Bond maintains a consistent reputation. The 00 agent spends his entire life networking, closing business deals, and invariably coming through in a pinch. Now doesn’t that sound like a brand with which you would like your small business to be associated?

Lesson: Master the art of salesmanship. There is no substitute skill for being able to sell. Whether you’re selling a product, a service, or yourself, we’ve all witnessed firsthand how crucial sales is to your business (especially in light of a recent economic downturn). To help push your sales from mediocre to outstanding, think in terms of the product instead of the customer. For instance, instead of thinking, “I have a product that I need to sell to this customer” think, “How can my product help this customer?” Work to inform, not coerce!

Lesson: Unmotivated employees are synonymous with poor performance. Even worse, poor performance leads to bad business practices. Therefore, it’s vital for those in upper management positions to learn how to instill and inspire motivation amoung their employees. Perhaps you haven’t conveyed your vision in a way that your employee understands. Or maybe you simply haven’t offered an incentive that your employee values. Either way, there are a multitude of helpful forums out there to help employers prevent their subordinates from becoming like our friend, Peter.

“Do or do not…there is no try.” Yoda, Star Wars Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Lesson: If you have a good idea – go for it! Get out there and make things happen. Be a mover and a shaker. As the saying goes: “Entrepreneurs are simply dreamers who do.” If you do nothing, you have neither the chance to fail or succeed. Keep in mind, you’ll always need to analyze the risks and rewards, but for those that aspire for something bigger, remember that you’ve got to risk it to get the biscuit.

If you haven’t seen any of the movies just referenced, you’ve got some homework to do! So grab some popcorn, kick back in the living room, and immerse yourself in cinematic entertainment (er, education). Despite what your mother used to discourage about spending too much time watching television, we think even she would approve of this assignment.

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Wow, great blog. I have seen all these movies and especially like the references to Jack Lemon in Glengarry-Glen Ross and Office Space. Did you know I even have my own personal copy of Office Space.

http://moneydebtandtaxes.com Kathleen

That is an awesome post filled with great advice for any business. Although I will disagree just a little with #1 Show Me The Money. Without good cash flow management a business can’t survive. However, you are correct in that if a company does not take good care of their customers, there will be no cash flow to manage!

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